The importance of factorial design on the optimization of biosensor performance: immobilization of glucose oxidase as a case study.

Conventionally, the optimization of glucose biosensors is achieved by varying the concentrations of the individual reagents used to immobilize the enzyme. In this work, the effect and interaction between glucose oxidase enzyme (GOx), ferrocene methanol (Fc), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at different concentrations were investigated by a design of experiments (DoE). For this analysis, a factorial design with three factors and two levels each was used with the software RStudio for statistical analysis. The data were obtained by electrochemical experiments on the immobilization of GOx-Fc/MWCNT at different concentrations. The results showed that the factorial DoE method was confirmed by the non-normality of the residuals and the outliers of the experiment. When examining the effects of the variables, analyzing the half-normal distribution and the effects and contrasts for GOx-Fc/MWCNT, the factors that showed the greatest influence on the electrochemical response were GOx, MWCNT, Fc, and MWCNT:Fc, and there is a high correlation between the factors GOx, MWCNT, Fc, and MWCNT:Fc, as shown by the analysis of homoscedasticity and multicollinearity. With these statistical analyses and experimental designs, it was possible to find the optimal conditions for different factors: 10 mM mL-1 GOx, 2 mg mL-1 Fc, and 15 mg mL-1 MWCNT show a greater amperometric response in the glucose oxidation. This work contributes to advancing enzyme immobilization strategies for glucose biosensor applications. Systematic investigation of DoE leads to optimized immobilization for GOx, enables better performance as a glucose biosensor, and allows the prediction of some outcomes.

Effect of in-water administration of quorum system inhibitors in broilers' productive performance and intestinal microbiome in a mild necrotic enteritis challenge.

The poultry industry has been facing the impact of necrotic enteritis (NE), a disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium perfringens producing the haemolytic toxin NetB. NE severity may vary from mild clinical to prominent enteric signs causing reduced growth rates and affecting feed conversion ratio. NetB production is controlled by the Agr-like quorum-sensing (QS) system, which coordinates virulence gene expression in response to bacterial cell density. In this study, the peptide-containing cell-free spent media (CFSM) from Enterococcus faecium was tested in NE challenged broilers in two battery cage and one floor pen studies. Results showed a significant reduction of NE mortality. Metagenomic sequencing of the jejunum microbiome revealed no impact of the CFSM on the microbial community, and growth of C. perfringens was unaffected by CFSM in vitro. The expression of QS-controlled virulence genes netB, plc and pfoA was found to be significantly repressed by CFSM during the mid-logarithmic stage of C. perfringens growth and this corresponded with a significant decrease in haemolytic activity. Purified fractions of CFSM containing bioactive peptides were found to cause reduced haemolysis. These results showed that bioactive peptides reduce NE mortality in broilers by interfering with the QS system of C. perfringens and reducing bacterial virulence. Furthermore, the microbiome of C. perfringens-challenged broilers is not affected by quorum sensing inhibitor containing CFSM.

Oral cancer knowledge in adults evaluated through a phone survey in the context of the SARS-CoV2 health emergency in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: in Colombia, oral cancer is the eighth most common type of cancer, with an estimated survival rate of 52%. Lack of knowledge about oral cancer and its risk factors is associated with late detection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 268 patients attending the School of Dentistry of the University of Antioquia clinics, to whom a validated 47-question questionnaire was applied by phone during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021). Data were analyzed using the SPSS software. RESULTS: the mean age was 58.9. 58.6% of the participants had heard of oral cancer, 42% acquire knowledge from the media, and 96.7% considered screening necessary. Most of the patients expressed not feeling worried (54.5%), fearful (59.7%), or anxious (56.3%) in the case of being submitted to an examination for early detection of oral cancer. A correlation between low socioeconomic status and educational level with less knowledge of oral cancer was found. The dimensions of experience and attitude towards screening were not associated with sociodemographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: There is little knowledge about oral cancer, especially in low socioeconomic and educational status, although this does not occur in the dimensions of attitude and experience toward screening. In contrast, patients participating in this study presented high knowledge about oral cancer risk. This population recognizes the situations most related to the development of cancer. This level of knowledge was similar for the demographic conditions except for people with no education, who presented less knowledge of the risks. The need for educational campaigns on oral cancer knowledge is reaffirmed, especially in socially disadvantaged groups, considering that there would be no barriers related to screening.

Analysis of the measurement uncertainty and its effects on noise mapping validations.

This paper addresses the use of noise measurements when noise mapping simulations are intended to be validated. For this, a discussion about the measurement uncertainty and how to include it in the process of validation is carried out. Then, the contribution provided by the geo-referencing error of a GPS and its impact in the uncertainty is assessed. This is achieved by means of environmental noise measurements, which are conducted based on the accuracy radius given by a standard GPS. Furthermore, an assessment of the approach is conducted by means of numerical simulations using the commercial package SoundPLAN. The results indicate that the uncertainty of noise measurements should be included as it restricts the validation threshold (usually assumed as ±3 dB). Furthermore, the error generated by the inaccuracy of the geo-referencing process increases the uncertainty of the measurements and, therefore, of the noise maps. Finally, a method to calculate a total uncertainty, which partially includes the contributions of the geo-referencing error is also proposed.

Unintended Consequences of the New National Kidney Allocation Policy in the United States.

The new national Kidney Allocation System of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), effective as of December 4, 2014, was designed to improve the chances of transplanting the most highly sensitized patients on the waitlist, those with calculated panel reactive antibody values of 98%, 99% and 100%. Recently, it was suggested that these highly sensitized patients will experience inequitable access, given the reported high prevalence of antibodies to HLA-DP, and the fact that only about 1/3 of deceased donors are typed for HLA-DP antigens. Here we report that 320/2948 flow cytometric crossmatches performed for the Northwestern transplant program over the past 28 months were positive solely due to HLA-DP donor-specific antibodies (11%; 16.5% of patients with HLA antibodies-sensitized patients). We further show that 58/207 (12%) HLA-DR serologically matched donor-recipient pairs had a positive B cell flow crossmatch due to donor-specific HLA class II antibodies, and 2/34 (6%) serologic zero-HLA-A-B-DR mismatch had a positive flow crossmatch due to HLA-DSA. We therefore provide information regarding the necessity and importance of complete donor HLA typing including both chains of the HLA-DP antigen (encoded by HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1) at the time of organ offer.

Mental health consequences of parental death and its prevalence in children: A systematic literature review.

The death of a loved one can occur at any stage of life and can have a profound clinical impact on the patient. During childhood and adolescence, smoking has a functional impact on key aspects of family, school, and social life. The negative effects of parental death on children's mental health and its prevalence are unknown. Therefore, this systematic literature review aimed to describe the effects of parental death on children's mental health and its prevalence. The PubMed/Medline, WoS, and Cochrane Trials databases were searched for articles on patients aged 4-18 years. This review examines three articles. Anxiety and depression were identified as the predominant mental health outcomes, with a prevalence ranging from 7.5 % to 44.67 % of the mental health consequences associated with parental death.

Biocidal effects of organometallic materials supported on ZSM-5 Zeolite: Influence of the physicochemical and surface properties.

Antifouling coatings containing biocidal agents can be used to prevent the accumulation of biotic deposits on submerged surfaces; however, several commercial biocides can negatively affect the ecosystem. In this study, various formulations of a potential biocide product comprising copper nanoparticles and capsaicin supported on zeolite ZSM-5 were analyzed to determine the influence of the concentration of each component. The incorporation of copper was evidenced by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Similarly, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that capsaicin was supported on the zeolite surface. The presence of capsaicin on the external zeolite surface significantly reduced the surface area of the zeolite. Finally, bacterial growth inhibition analysis showed that copper nanoparticles inhibited the growth of strains Idiomarina loihiensis UCO25, Pseudoalteromonas sp. UCO92, and Halomonas boliviensis UCO24 while the organic component acted as a reinforcing biocide.

Deceased organ donor screening for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C viruses: a survey of organ procurement organization practices.

Although Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) policy requires that all potential deceased organ donors are screened for human immunodeficiency (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) viruses by serology, no current policy requires the use of nucleic acid testing (NAT) for organ donor screening. An electronic survey was sent to 58 organ procurement organizations (OPO) in the United States to assess current screening practices of potential deceased organ donors. Fifty-seven responses were collected for data analysis; not all respondents answered all questions. All OPOs performed required HIV, HBV and HCV serology screening and 48 (84%) performed confirmatory testing for seropositive donors. Ninety-eight percent, 75% and 97% of OPOs performed prospective HIV, HBV and HCV NAT, respectively. Fifty-two percent and 47% used a transcription-mediated amplification assay for HIV and HCV NAT, respectively. Of the 56 respondents that performed HIV NAT and 55 respondents that performed HCV NAT, 39 tested all donors. Seventeen (32%) OPOs performed confirmatory testing for all HIV-positive NAT results, and 15 (27%) OPOs performed confirmatory testing for all HCV-positive NAT results. Since 2008, the number of OPOs performing NAT has increased and more OPOs are testing all donors.

Digenean metacercariae of fishes from the lagoon flats of Palmyra Atoll, Eastern Indo-Pacific.

Although many studies on the taxonomy of digenean trematodes of marine fishes have been completed in the Eastern Indo-Pacific (EIP) marine ecoregion, only a few have considered metacercarial stages. Here, the results are presented of a taxonomic survey of the digenean metacercariae of fishes from Palmyra Atoll, a remote and relatively pristine US National Wildlife Refuge located 1680 km SSW of Hawaii. Up to 425 individual fish were collected, comprising 42 fish species, from the sand flats bordering the lagoon of the atoll. Quantitative parasitological examinations of each fish were performed. Morphological descriptions of the encountered digenean metacercariae are provided, together with their prevalence, mean intensities, host and tissue-use. Up to 33,964 individuals were recovered representing 19 digenean metacercaria species from eight families. The species composition of digeneans in lagoon fishes at Palmyra Atoll is a subset of what has previously been reported for the EIP. Further, the large diversity and abundance of metacercariae reported in this study highlight the utility of including this group in future ecological research in the EIP marine ecoregion.

Changes in serum testosterone and anti-Müllerian hormone concentration in bulls undergoing scrotal insulation.

While changes in semen quality after heat stress are well characterized in the bull, changes in endocrine function have not been critically evaluated. It was hypothesized here that scrotal insulation results in alterations in Sertoli cell and Leydig cell function, as measured by changes in serum testosterone and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration. Scrotal insulation bags were placed in 10 bulls for 8 d. Blood was collected on days -22 and -2, and weekly from days 5 to 96 (day 0 = first day of scrotal insulation) for measurement of serum concentration of AMH and testosterone using ELISA. The concentration of AMH decreased on day 5, followed by an increase on day 54 (P = 0.014). When AMH concentration was normalized to pre-insulation values, the percent increase in serum concentration of AMH was significant between days 26 and 54, with another peak at 75 d (P = 0.031). The serum concentration of testosterone (P = 0.0001) and the percentage of change in testosterone concentration (P < 0.0001) increased on day 5, followed by a decrease from days 33 to 96. Scrotal insulation was associated with Sertoli and Leydig cell dysfunction, as measured by serum testosterone and AMH concentration. The persistently low concentration of testosterone at the end of the study suggests a long term effect of scrotal insulation on Leydig cell function.

Clinical status and endoscopy of the upper respiratory tract of dairy calves infected with Bovine viral diarrhea virus 2 and Bovine herpes virus 1 after vaccination and trace minerals injection.

The objective was to compare clinical protection [evaluated through health scoring, endoscopy score of the upper respiratory tract (URT-ES), leukocyte count, viremia, and virus shedding in nasal secretions] following Bovine viral diarrhea virus 2 (BVDV2) and Bovine herpes virus 1 (BHV1) challenge among calves submitted to modified-live virus (MLV) booster vaccination (either intranasal or subcutaneous) concurrent with injectable trace minerals (ITM) or saline. Forty-eight dairy calves received an MLV intranasal (IN) vaccine containing BHV1, BRSV, and BPI3V and subcutaneous (SC) ITM (Se, Cu, Zn & Mn; ITM, n = 24) or saline (SAL, n = 24). Ten weeks later, calves received a second dose of ITM, or saline, according to previous groups and were randomly assigned to receive the same IN vaccine [ITM-IN (n = 12), SAL-IN (n = 12)] or a SC MLV vaccine containing BHV1, BRSV, BPI3V, BVDV1 & 2 [ITM-SC (n = 12), SAL-SC (n = 12)]. Additionally, 12 calves did not receive vaccine or treatment and served as a control group (UNVAC, n = 12). Forty-nine days after booster, calves were challenged with BVDV2; and seven days later with BHV1. Health scores indicated disease in UNVAC on days 6, 10 and 12 compared to the vaccinated groups. Unvaccinated calves had the highest URT-ES after BHV1 challenge. Calves that received SC booster had lower URT-ES after BHV1 challenge than UNVAC calves. Calves in ITM-IN had significantly lower URT-ES after BHV1 infection than SAL-IN and UNVAC calves. In conclusion, IN or SC MLV vaccination was similarly effective in protecting calves from BVDV2 + BHV1 challenges (reducing clinical and endoscopy scores, preventing leukopenia, and viremia), compared to unvaccinated calves. Endoscopic evaluation of the URT allowed visualization of the inflammation and damage at multiple depths in the URT caused by a serial BVDV2 + BHV1 challenge. Calves that received SC vaccination had significantly lower URT-ES after BHV1 challenge than the UNVAC calves. Administration of ITM concurrent with IN vaccination was associated with reduced URT inflammation after BVDV2 + BHV1 challenge.

Danger and distress: Parabrachial-extended amygdala circuits.

Our understanding of the role of the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) has evolved as technology has advanced, in part due to cell-specific studies and complex behavioral assays. This is reflected in the heterogeneous neuronal populations within the PBN to the extended amygdala (EA) circuits which encompass the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and central amygdala (CeA) circuitry, as they differentially modulate aspects of behavior in response to diverse threat-like contexts necessary for survival. Here we review how the PBN→CeA and PBN→BNST pathways differentially modulate fear-like behavior, innate and conditioned, through unique changes in neurotransmission in response to stress-inducing contexts. Furthermore, we hypothesize how in specific instances the PBN→CeA and PBN→BNST circuits are redundant and in part intertwined with their respective reciprocal projections. By deconstructing the interoceptive and exteroceptive components of affect- and stress related behavioral paradigms, evidence suggests that the PBN→CeA circuit modulates innate response to physical stimuli and fear conditioning. Conversely, the PBN→BNST circuit modulates distress-like stress in unpredictable contexts. Thereby, the PBN provides a pathway for alarming interoceptive and exteroceptive stimuli to be processed and relayed to the EA to induce stress-relevant affect. Additionally, we provide a framework for future studies to detail the cell-type specific intricacies of PBN→EA circuits in mediating behavioral responses to threats, and the relevance of the PBN in drug-use as it relates to threat and negative reinforcement. This article is part of the special Issue on 'Neurocircuitry Modulating Drug and Alcohol Abuse'.

Ultrafast carbon nanotubes growth on recycled carbon fibers and their evaluation on interfacial shear strength in reinforced composites.

The global demand for products manufactured with carbon fibers (CFs) has increased in recent years; however, the waste generated at the end of the product lifetime has also increased. In this research, the impact of the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the interlaminated resistance of recycled carbon fibers (RCFs) was studied. In this work, a recycling process of the composite material was applied via thermolysis to obtain the CFs, followed by the growth of CNTs on their surface using the Poptube technique. The recycling temperature were 500 °C and 700 °C; and ferrocene and polypyrrole were used to grow CNTs on CFs surface. CNTs were verified by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, to determine the interlaminar resistance, a double cantilever beam (DCB) test was performed. The results indicate that with Poptube technique, CNTs can be grown on RCFs using both impregnations. Thermolysis recycling process at 500 °C allowed CFs without resin residues and without visible damage. The DCB tests showed a decrease in the fracture resistance in mode I loading of 34.9% for the polypyrrole samples and 29.3% for the ferrocene samples compared with the virgin carbon fibers (VCFs) samples with a resistance of 1052.5 J/m2.

Thymic T cell anergy in autoimmune nonobese diabetic mice is mediated by deficient T cell receptor regulation of the pathway of p21ras activation.

Thymic T cell anergy, as manifested by thymocyte proliferative unresponsiveness to antigens expressed in the thymic environment, is commonly believed to mediate the acquisition of immunological self-tolerance. However, we previously found that thymic T cell anergy may lead to the breakdown of tolerance and predispose to autoimmunity in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Here, we show that NOD thymic T cell anergy, as revealed by proliferative unresponsiveness in vitro after stimulation through the T cell receptor (TCR), is associated with defective TCR-mediated signal transduction along the PKC/p21ras/p42mapk pathway of T cell activation. PKC activity is reduced in NOD thymocytes. Activation of p21ras is deficient in quiescent and stimulated NOD T cells, and this is correlated with a significant reduction in the tyrosine phosphorylation of p42mapk, a serine/threonine kinase active downstream of p21ras. Treatment of NOD T cells with a phorbol ester not only enhances their p21ras activity and p42mapk tyrosine phosphorylation but also restores their proliferative responsiveness. Since p42mapk activity is required for progression through to S phase of the cell cycle, our data suggest that reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of p42mapk in stimulated NOD T cells may abrogate its activity and elicit the proliferative unresponsiveness of these cells.

Interleukin 4 reverses T cell proliferative unresponsiveness and prevents the onset of diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice.

Beginning at the time of insulitis (7 wk of age), CD4+ and CD8+ mature thymocytes from nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice exhibit a proliferative unresponsiveness in vitro after T cell receptor (TCR) crosslinking. This unresponsiveness does not result from either insulitis or thymic involution and is long lasting, i.e., persists until diabetes onset (24 wk of age). We previously proposed that it represents a form of thymic T cell anergy that predisposes to diabetes onset. This hypothesis was tested in the present study by further investigating the mechanism responsible for NOD thymic T cell proliferative unresponsiveness and determining whether reversal of this unresponsiveness protects NOD mice from diabetes. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) secretion by thymocytes from > 7-wk-old NOD mice was virtually undetectable after treatment with either anti-TCR alpha/beta, anti-CD3, or Concanavalin A (Con A) compared with those by thymocytes from age- and sex-matched control BALB/c mice stimulated under identical conditions. NOD thymocytes stimulated by anti-TCR alpha/beta or anti-CD3 secreted less IL-2 than did similarly activated BALB/c thymocytes. However, since equivalent levels of IL-3 were secreted by Con A-activated NOD and BALB/c thymocytes, the unresponsiveness of NOD thymic T cells does not appear to be dependent on reduced IL-2 secretion. The surface density and dissociation constant of the high affinity IL-2 receptor of Con A-activated thymocytes from both strains are also similar. The patterns of unresponsiveness and lymphokine secretion seen in anti-TCR/CD3-activated NOD thymic T cells were also observed in activated NOD peripheral spleen T cells. Exogenous recombinant (r)IL-2 only partially reverses NOD thymocyte proliferative unresponsiveness to anti-CD3, and this is mediated by the inability of IL-2 to stimulate a complete IL-4 secretion response. In contrast, exogenous IL-4 reverses the unresponsiveness of both NOD thymic and peripheral T cells completely, and this is associated with the complete restoration of an IL-2 secretion response. Furthermore, the in vivo administration of rIL-4 to prediabetic NOD mice protects them from diabetes. Thus, the ability of rIL-4 to reverse completely the NOD thymic and peripheral T cell proliferative defect in vitro and protect against diabetes in vivo provides further support for a causal relationship between this T cell proliferative unresponsiveness and susceptibility to diabetes in NOD mice.

Assessment of mycobacteremia detection as a complementary method for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients.

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the usefulness of mycobacteremia detection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients with suspected tuberculosis. The study included 47 patients with suspected tuberculosis and confirmed HIV infection. A first blood sample was incubated in a BACTEC 9050 MB system, while white blood cells isolation was performed on a second blood specimen before incubation in a BACTEC MGIT 960 system. The third specimen was taken from the affected organs of each patient according to their clinical profile. Twelve (25.5%) patients were positive for mycobacterial infection identified by any of the methods used. Ten (21.2%) were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 2 (4.3%) for M. avium. Six patients were diagnosed by the culture of specimen from affected organs only, whilst three other patients were positive exclusively for blood cultures. Three additional patients were diagnosed by both methods. Four patients with negative cultures were ultimately diagnosed with tuberculosis by measuring the adenosine deaminase levels. Mycobacteremia detection can be used to increase the sensitivity of the diagnosis of tuberculosis and other mycobacteria in patients with HIV. However, it cannot be used as the sole diagnostic method. Clinical specimen cultures do not provide 100% diagnostic accuracy and it is, therefore, critical to further improve the mycobacteria detection sensitivity.

BNST transient activity associates with approach behavior in a stressful environment and is modulated by the parabrachial nucleus.

Studies demonstrate a role for the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in modulating affective behavior and stress-reward integration. To explore the dynamic nature of in vivo BNST activity associated with anxiety-like behavior in a stress-inducing context, we utilized fiber photometry and detected BNST calcium transients in mice during the novelty-suppressed feeding task (NSFT). Phasic BNST activity emerged time-locked to novel object or food pellet approach during NSFT. The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) has a large input to the BNST and is thought to function as a danger signal, in arousal responses and in feeding behavior. To explore a potential role for the PBN as a contributor to BNST activity in NSFT, we investigated whether chemogenetic regulation of PBN activity altered the dynamic BNST response synchronized to NSFT approach behavior. We found that activation of the hM3D(Gq) DREADD in the PBN enhanced the observed transient signal in the BNST synchronized to the consummatory food approach, and was associated at the behavioral level with increased latency to consume food. Because the PBN has multiple efferent pathways, we next used a transsynaptic anterograde AAV-based strategy to express hM3D(Gq) specifically in PBN-innervated BNST (BNSTPBN) neurons in male and female mice. Activation of hM3D(Gq) in these BNSTPBN neurons increased latency to consume food in female, but not male mice. To further explore the population of BNST neurons contributing to phasic BNST activity associated with NSFT, we turned to PKCδ neurons in BNST. BNST(PKCδ) neurons are implicated in stress and food-related behavior, and we previously found that the expression of this kinase is regulated in the BNST by stress in a sex-dependent manner. Here, we demonstrate close apposition of CGRP, a marker of PBN terminals, adjacent to BNST(PKCδ) cells. Finally, we find that PKCδ-expressing BNST cells exhibit a large transient signal synchronized to the consummatory food approach similar to that seen with bulk BNST activity measures. Taken together these data demonstrate phasic BNST activity at a global and cell-specific level that is driven in part by PBN activity at the time of NSFT consummatory approach behavior.

Adipokines underlie the early origins of obesity and associated metabolic comorbidities in the offspring of women with pregestational obesity.

Maternal pregestational obesity is a well-known risk factor for offspring obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The mechanisms by which maternal obesity can induce alterations in fetal and later neonatal metabolism are not fully elucidated due to its complexity and multifactorial causes. Two adipokines, leptin and adiponectin, are involved in fetal and postnatal growth trajectories, and both are altered in women with pregestational obesity. The placenta synthesizes leptin, which goes mainly to the maternal circulation and in lesser amount to the developing fetus. Maternal pregestational obesity and hyperleptinemia are associated with placental dysfunction and changes in nutrient transporters which directly affect fetal growth and development. By the other side, the embryo can produce its own leptin from early in development, which is associated to fetal weight and adiposity. Adiponectin, an insulin-sensitizing adipokine, is downregulated in maternal obesity. High molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin is the most abundant form and with most biological actions. In maternal obesity lower total and HMW adiponectin levels have been described in the mother, paralleled with high levels in the umbilical cord. Several studies have found that cord blood adiponectin levels are related with postnatal growth trajectories, and it has been suggested that low adiponectin levels in women with pregestational obesity enhance placental insulin sensitivity and activation of placental amino acid transport systems, supporting fetal overgrowth. The possible mechanisms by which maternal pregestational obesity, focusing in the actions of leptin and adiponectin, affects the fetal development and postnatal growth trajectories in their offspring are discussed.

[Cost of therapeutic failure of ampicillin plus amikacin in the treatment of early neonatal sepsis]. / Costo económico marginal del fracaso terapéutico con ampicilina más amikacina en el tratamiento de la sepsis neonatal temprana.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the marginal cost of therapeutic failure with Ampicillin/amikacin as the first-line antibiotic treatment of early-onset neonatal sepsis (ENS). METHODS: Out of a total of 121 newborns, 86 failed to respond to Ampicillin/amikacin when it was used as first-line treatment within their first 72h of life. All of them were admitted to the NICU between 2001 and 2005 with suspicion of sepsis. After this failure to respond, vancomycin and/or cefotaxime were used as the second treatment option for these newborns. Using a full cost method we performed a cost analysis with an activity-based-costing (ABC) perspective, identifying the costs generated by these 86 patients. RESULTS: The costs comprising medication, hospitalization, supplies and clinical staff salaries were higher when vancomycin and/or cefotaxime were used (350,924 dollars or 275,116 euros) compared to those generated with an Ampicillin/amikacin regimen (159,251 dollars or 124,878 euros). When compared as protective factors, the relative risk was 1.09 (95% CI; 0.39-2.1 P=0.8) for Ampicillin/amikacin vs. 0.02 (95% CI; 0.04-0.32 P<0.05) for vancomycin and/or cefotaxime. CONCLUSIONS: Even though vancomycin and/or cefotaxime are initially more costly, there is a cost saving derived from the use of this antibiotic treatment as the first-line therapeutic option instead of as a rescue therapy when a lower-efficacy regimen (Ampicillin/amikacin) has failed.

Comparative Study of the Antimicrobial Effect of Nanocomposites and Composite Based on Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Using Cu and Cu/Cu2O Nanoparticles and CuSO4.

Nanocomposites and a composite based on poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) were synthesized using commercial copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs), copper/cuprous oxide nanoparticles (Cu|Cu2O-NPs), and copper sulfate (CuSO4), respectively. The Cu|Cu2O-NPs were synthesized using chemical reduction and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The synthesis of Cu|Cu2O-NPs yielded a mixture of Cu and Cu2O, with metal Cu having a spherical morphology of approximately 40 nm in diameter and Cu2O with a diameter of 150 nm. To prepare the nanocomposites (NCs) and the composite material (MC), the NPs and the CuSO4 salt were incorporated into the PBAT matrix in concentrations of 1, 3, and 5% p/p via an ex situ method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), a tensile test, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and agar diffusion assays were used for structural, thermomechanical, and antimicrobial characterization. Results showed that the reinforcements did not modify the chemical structure of the PBAT and only slightly increased the percentage of crystallization. The mechanical and thermal properties of the PBAT did not change much with the addition of fillers, except for a slight increase in tensile strength and thermal stability, respectively. The agar diffusion antimicrobial assays showed that the NCs and MCs had good inhibitory responses against the nonresistant strains Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, and Staphylococcus aureus. The MCs based on CuSO4 had the highest biocidal effect, even against the resistant bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii.